Comelec nat'l officials to observe special poll

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  —Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes and his commissioners are arriving in Negros Occidental tomorrow (Saturday) to observe the conduct of the June 2 special poll in the 5th District, which will be done in the old manual system.

Provincial election supervisor Jessie Suarez said everything is set for the special poll, and he has not received any election-related complaints, since the campaign period started May 17 until it ended yesterday, May 31.

The Comelec will start distributing election paraphernalia for far-flung barangays this afternoon (Friday), and for nearby barangays tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 2 a.m.

The voting period will start at 7 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m., Suarez said. The Provincial Board of Canvassers will convene at 6 p.m. and will be ready to proclaim the winner by Sunday morning.

The election for congressman in the district, replacing the late Iggy Arroyo, is between Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and his nephew, Provincial Board Member Emilio Yulo III.

In a related development, the police are warning those who violate the law related to the conduct of the special election, lest they will be apprehended and charged.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police director, assured the public there will be no exemptions of anyone caught violating the law. This was his reaction to a report that a private road in Brgy. Inolingan of Moises Padilla, one of the towns in the 5th District, was closed allegedly to prevent supporters of Mirasol from passing through.

This was confirmed by Supt. Leo Erwin Agpangan, deputy provincial director for southern Negros, who said that a road leading to Inolingan was closed to passersby and that only supporters of Yulo have been allowed to pass through.

The road is within the property of Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Pena, who has expressed his support to Yulo.

Pena said Yulo, being a lawyer, can well represent the people in the District, citing the latter’s more than seven years of political experience.

Agpangan said the road is a private property and it is the right of the owner to close it to the public, however, the passersby can use an alternate road, which is a bit far from the main road. Guisihan said he has asked the Comelec lawyers to determine if the owner of the private road could have possibly violated the law. 

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday instructed Guisihan again to ensure that the conduct of the special election is peaceful. He asked Guisihan and Suarez to resolve the matter on the closure of the private road.

The governor said he is calling on the supporters of Mirasol and Yulo not to resort to threats in campaigning. “Let us keep this election clean, transparent, credible and peaceful,” he added.

Meanwhile, Grace Ibuna, the long-time partner of Iggy, said she is coming to La Castellana town where she is a registered voter. She has endorsed Mirasol. “I pray and wish that the (people of) 5th District will vote wisely, ... I know Mirasol will deliver and make a difference,” she added. (FREEMAN)